What if the British monarchy was abolished after World War One?

RNG

Banned
There was unrest about a monarchy in Britain after World War One. What if the people rallied to get rid of the monarchy. What would happen? How would a monarchless Britain affect the inter war time, World War Two, and beyond? Would the monarchy ever be brought back? What you think?
 
You would need dire political and economic situation before you can get succesful revolution or at least abolishment of monarchy. And it is very hard abolish British monarchy via democratic way. I doubt that it is possible.
 

BigBlueBox

Banned
If Britain is still victorious in WW1 then the only imaginable scenario in which the monarchy is abolished before World War 2 is a much, much worse Great Depression in which either communists come to power or the monarchy is somehow blamed.
 
There was unrest about a monarchy in Britain after World War One. What if the people rallied to get rid of the monarchy. What would happen? How would a monarchless Britain affect the inter war time, World War Two, and beyond? Would the monarchy ever be brought back? What you think?

It would be hugely complicated. George V is also King of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, not to mention being Emperor of India. Does he lose those thrones also, or could he move to Delhi or somewhere (as in Saki's When William Came) and rule the Empire from there?

If he fails to reach out more to the ordinary people (as he did OTL, partly on the advice of my great-grandfather) he might be forced to abdicate, but iirc the Prince of Wales was always popular, so we probably just get Edward VIII two decades earlier - though that, of course, might lead to problems of its own. <g>
 
WI George V is stubborn about the name Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and also refused to drop his German titles? There was a lot of anti German sentiment at the time (also the reason Battenburg became Mountbatten) could this have led to the monarchy at least being stripped of its remaining powers if not abolished. Personally I feel that it would have lead to Edward VIII earlier (as posted above by @Mikestone8).
 
I think its very hard to imagine a early 20th century Britain that gets rid of the monarchy in any other way than as part of some sort of catastrophic series of events. See, for example, the timeline in my sig where the Monarchy ends up removed post-war in an Italian style referendum.

You would need enormous impetus to remove the Monarchy post-1918 even if Britain had lost WWI. The monarchy is entwined with British institutions and structures in a very deep way. I can see, for instance, an objectionable monarch being asked to step aside in favour of another (a son or brother for instance) but I think abolishing the institution itself would be a very hard thing to achieve. Who would benefit? For many in the period the monarchy represented something comfortingly traditional, especially in a turbulent world of 1920s and 1930s (remember Britain somewhat retreated in on itself in the immediate post-war). But its largely ceremonial function means it is hard to imagine Labour, for example, wanting to spend the enormous political capital needed to remove it entirely. Why fight an unpopular battle when there are more pressing issues to attend to?

To answer the OP's question about consequences, it again depends on how the monarchy is abolished. Obviously a socialist state born out of revolution will have a very different trajectory than a moderate republic. Really my suspicion is that aside from the cultural changes there will be very little difference. Politics may be a little more turbulent, as constitutional monarchies tend to encourage a little more stability, but that is by no means a given. Although George VI and Elizabeth II have advised Prime Ministers, its not clear really how much any c20th PM has taken their advise to heart and besides, it would't be any advise they wouldn't get from other advisers and staff.

So actually very little would change IMHO.
 
I struggle to see the end of the monarchy even in modern times and much less so post WW1. By WW1 the British monarchy is largely ceremonial and although in theory it has vast powers in reality it doesn't use them. Therefore unlike monarchs with real power like the Kaiser or Tzar if things go wrong like being on the loosing side in a war it's not the kings fault it's his ministers. This insulates the monarchy from the anger of the masses.

Also the Sailor king is reputed to have had a bit of the common touch and was well liked by the working classes. Even a POD which saw him die earlier than OTL still leaves Edward as a young king who would likely be given time in the role even if he makes a bigger hash of things TOTL.

Also the British monarchy can act as a unifying force in British politics so even a communist coup would be well advised not to off the king or see any popular support wash away with a feeling of betrayal of Britishness.
 
Your best bet for the abolition of the monarchy would be an Edward VIII stays and fights timeline (and where George VI straight-out refuses to assume his brother's throne).

Failing that, you basically need a Revolution.
 
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